A poem to honor those who have died from the Corona virus and a prayer for strength

To rise again tomorrow

I blocked my ears, so as not to hear the bells toll on and on

And covered my eyes so as not to see

The long, long procession

of army jeeps and freezer trucks

Carrying precious cargo

No graveside prayers, no “dust to dust”

As contagion cancelled all tradition

No floral bouquets, no wreaths of green

Or hymns sang loud and clearly

No eulogy, no words at all

Save those whispered in anguished voice imprisoned

By grieving souls in isolation

So, bless these bodies, God, we pray

And bring us consolation

For loved ones gone

For those left behind

Who grieve without help or closure

It’s been one hundred years or more

Since our world’s seen such calamity

Or felt so deeply forsaken

We need you now, more than ever, Lord

Please hasten to our aid

Please dry these bitter tears

And If I may prevail, dear God,

Protect us from all fears

Renew our weakened faith,

And lend to us your powerful strength

To rise again tomorrow

The warning on the label

Pandora’s box lay in splinters

Upon the blood-soaked sand

It’s indiscriminate fatal poison

Leaking drop by drop into the ground

And though the waves lapped over it

Then carried it out to sea

It never would be diluted

As ocean currents carried it

To lands both near and far

Pandora’s crumpled form

Lay inert upon the shore,

her head between her hands

She wails and shrieks

She keens and begs

To go back, just once, in time

To recall the curiosity

That led to all the gloom

That feeds on fear and upon itself

And leads to great downfalls

As nation after nation

In arrogance denied its power

Embittered as she realized

The folly of her game

Pandora weeps in sadness

T’is but the birthing of her sorrow

For humanity and life at large

Forever would be changed

By this, her unwise decision

So, let us all take heed

Of the warning on the label

And leave alone Pandora’s box

Lest we live again the fable.

Always here

As the world mourns mounting deaths and sickness

You are here with us

You are always here

Help us remember in the midst of fear and terror

That you are here, always, always here

And let us be comforted

Let us remember past ages

When plagues swept the globe

When all was dark and gloomy

When the pall of death cast a wide net

And people were afraid

But you were there, always, always there

Help us live with the many unknowns

Help us place our trust in you

Until the dust has settled

And the sun comes shining through

All Nations Pray

Nations in mourning

Cry out to you, Divine One

Deep sadness rolls across our lands

Like a creeping fog

We are lost in its mists

Adrift, lost, and alone

Are you still here, Divine One?

Do you hear us call?

Body bags are mounting

Grim reapers at our doors

The death ship sails on and on

Please send your helpers now.

Strengthen our healers

As they work from dawn to dusk

Fighting back an enemy

Without a soul or face

Hear us please, Divine One

Help us in our need

Send despair packing

Let hope arise again

For we feel lost, forsaken

And desperation pervades our being

We need your mercy now

Fill us with your gift of faith

And let wisdom be our guide

Come to us, Oh Holy One

And let your love preside

In every heart, in every mind

Until this fog subsides

I will cling to You

Divine One

I will cling to you

As wild winds blow,

As my small craft goes over waterfalls

That threaten to drown me in fears and anxiety

Lift me now, lift us all

Out of the pit we have stumbled into

Grant us faith so we do not stumble or fall

Grant us the gift of hope

When all is grim and seemingly hopeless

For I know there is always hope

And blessed respite

When I cling to You

In Supplication

Help me hear you

Let the murmuring and the noise fall away

Let me sit with you, Divine One, in the silence,

In the enforced inactivity of these days

Help me reach out in prayer and supplication

Let my prayers rise steadily and irrevocably

Like smoke from incense to You

Help me hear you

Help me be still and know

Know that we are never forgotten

And let us all be comforted in the knowledge

That your power is mightier, stronger

Than anything that exists in this world

And certainly, more powerful

Than the smallest, microscopic, tiniest germs or viruses

Help us all remember that

Now

Remember when

Emotions like

Ping pong balls

Bouncing back and forth, up and down

Dismal lows, irrational highs

Waiting, waiting

For balance,

To level off.

Waiting

For equilibrium

In this abnormal time

Yet what is normal anyway?

Who defines the word?

Perhaps the world is topsy-turvy

In these challenging,

Unprecedented days

Yet one day soon

The world will right itself

And we will look back

And remember when